High voltage cable coupler with termination adaptor and method of constructing cable termination

Abstract

A high voltage cable coupler for releasably connecting together one or more high voltage cables having a concentrically located insulated conductor bounded by a semiconductive and/or metallic shield. The cable housing is provided to be in two moisture-proof halves, one-half for supporting the female connector assembly and the other half for supporting the male connector assembly. Each cable terminus includes a cable termination adaptor which provides a stress relief cone as well as insulative means in combination with an insulator tube assembly within which the conductor connector is secured. This combination also provides for proper positioning and support of the adaptor assembly within the housing as well as providing definitive means for the relationship separation of the termination of the cable shielding and the conductor connector which has an influence on the resultant creepage path. The adaptor is made of elastomeric material and is provided with an integrally bonded semiconductive layer on the stress relief cone area, the largest diametrical extent of which is provided with an annular flange. The semiconductive layer is feathered at its outer extents in that it diminishes in layer thickness to be contiguous with the insulative portion of the stress relief cone at the other end. The structure of the adaptor is particularly suited for constructing high voltage cable terminations free of voids or air pockets particularly where it is used in the field.

Having thus described my invention I claim: 
     
       1. Method of constructing a high voltage cable termination with a cable having at least one outer layer containing conductive shielding properties overlying an insulative covered conductor comprising the steps of stripping from the terminal end of the cable a portion of the conductive shielding exposing the conductor insulation,   stripping from the immediate terminal end of the cable a portion of the cable insulation,   inserting the stripped insulated portion into an elongated elastomeric adaptor having a central bore and two oppositely opposed frusto-conical surfaces with the smaller diametrical extent of each surface at opposite ends thereof,   securing an electrical connector to the stripped conductor,   positioning the inserted adaptor into engagement with the secured connector and thereby permissible exposing a portion of the stripped insulated conductor between the terminus of the conductive shielding and the adaptor, and   Applying a layer of shielding material having metallic properties along the cable terminus on the exposed portion of the cable shielding, thence along any remaining exposed cable insulation and thence up over a portion of one of the frusto-conical surfaces of the adaptor.   
     
     
       2. Method of constructing a high voltage cable terminal with a cable termination with a cable having at least one outer layer containing conductive shielding properties overlying an insulative covered conductor comprising the steps of stripping from the terminal end of the cable a portion of the conductive shielding exposing the conductor insulation,   stripping from the immediate terminal end of the cable a portion of the cable insulation,   inserting the stripped insulated portion into an elongated elastomeric adaptor having a central bore and two oppositely opposed frusto-conical surfaces with the smaller diametrical extent of each surface at opposite ends thereof, one of said surfaces provided with a semiconductive frusto-conical layer which surface portion is inserted on said insulation portion first,   securing an electrical connector to the stripped conductor,   positioning the inserted adaptor into engagement with the secured connector and thereby permissible exposing a portion of the stripped insulated conductor between the terminus of the conductive shielding and the adaptor, and   applying a layer of shielding material having metallic properties along the cable terminus on the exposed portion of the cable shielding, thence along any remaining exposed cable insulation and thence up over a portion of the conductive layer of the adaptor.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 characterized in that said applied layer consists of metallic shielding material. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 characterized in that said applied layer is spirally wrapped semiconductive tape. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2 characterized in that said applied layer is a semiconductive coating. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 2 characterized in that said applied layer is heat shrinkable semiconductive tubing. 
     
     
       7. Method of constructing a high voltage cable termination with a cable having outer conductive shielding properties overlying an insulation covered conductor comprising the steps of stripping from the terminal end of the cable a portion of the conductive shielding exposing the conductor insulation,   stripping from the immediate terminal end of the cable a portion of the cable insulation,   providing an elongated insulative elastomeric adaptor having a concentrically located bore, an intermediate outer annular flange being the largest diametrical extent thereof, frusto-conical surfaces on both sides of the flange and tapered away therefrom toward the central bore,   vulcanizing a semiconductive layer on one of the tapered surfaces with end extremities of diminishing layer thickness to a point wherein one end extremity is contiguous with the flange and the other end extremity is extended beyond the outer annular edge of the adaptor adjacent the bore,   inserting the stripped insulated portion into the cable termination adaptor with said adaptor outer end inserted first on said insulated conductor,   positioning the inserted adaptor to be contiguous with the secured connector and thereby permissibly exposing a portion of the stripped insulated conductor between the terminus of the conductive shielding and the adaptor,   applying a layer of semiconductive shielding material along the cable terminus on the exposed portion of the cable shielding, thence along any remaining exposed cable insulation and thence up over part of said adaptor, and contracting the outer end of said adaptor while applying said material to form a void-free joint between said end portion and said cable insulation.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 characterized in that said applied layer is heat shrinkable semiconductive tubing 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7 characterized in that said applied layer is spirally wrapped semiconductive tape. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 7 characterized by applying a layer of metallic shielding material over said applied semiconductive layer. 
     
     
       11. Method of constructing a high voltage cable termination with a cable having outer conductive shielding properties overlying an insulation covering conductor comprising the steps of stripping from the terminal end of the cable a portion of the conductive shielding exposing the conductor insulation,   stripping from the immediate terminal end of the cable a portion of the cable insulation,   providing an elongated insulative elastomeric adaptor having a concentrically located bore, an intermediate outer annular flange being the largest diametrical extent thereof, frusto-conical surfaces on both sides of the flange and tapered away therefrom toward the central bore,   vulcanizing a semiconductive layer on one of the tapered surfaces with end extremities of diminishing layer thickness to a point wherein one end extremity is contiguous with the flange and the other end extremity is extended beyond the outer annular edge of the adaptor adjacent the bore,   inserting the stripped insulated portion into the cable termination adaptor with said adaptor outer end inserted first on said insulated conductor,   securing an electrical connector to the stripped conductor,   positioning the inserted adaptor to be contiguous with the secured connector and thereby permissibly exposing a portion of the stripped insulated conductor between the terminus of the conductive shielding and the adaptor,   spirally wrapping a semiconductive shielding material along the cable terminus beginning on an exposed portion of the exposed cable shielding thence along any remaining exposed cable insulation and thence up over part of said adaptor, and   applying tension to said material as the same is wrapped, thereby causing said adaptor outer end to contact onto said cable insulation to form a void-free joint therebetween.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 characterized in that said applied layer is spirally wrapped flexible semiconductive tape. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11 characterized by applying a layer of metallic shielding material over said applied semiconductive material. 
     
     
       14. Method of constructing a high voltage cable termination with a cable having an outer metallic shielding beneath a protective insulative jacket but overlying an adjacent semiconductive layer overly an insulation covered conductor comprising the steps of stripping from the terminal end of the cable a portion of the metallic shielding exposing the semiconductive layer,   stripping away a portion of the exposed semiconductive layer exposing the conductor insulation,   stripping from the immediate terminal end of the cable a portion of the cable insulation,   providing an elongated insulative elastomeric adaptor having a concentrically located bore, an intermediate outer annular flange being the largest diametrical extent thereof, frusto-conical surfaces on both sides of the flange and tapered away therefrom toward the central bore,   vulcanizing a semiconductive layer on one of the tapered surfaces with end extremities of diminishing layer thickness to a point wherein one end extremity is contiguous with the flange and the other end exremity is extended beyond the outer annular edge of the adaptor adjacent the bore,   inserting the stripped insulated portion into the cable termination adaptor with said adaptor outer end inserted first on said insulated conductor,   securing an electrical contact to the stripped conductor,   positioning the inserted adaptor to be contiguous with the secured connector and thereby permissibly exposing a portion of the stripped insulated conductor between the terminus of the conductive shielding and the adaptor,   spirally wrapping a semiconductive layer of material along the cable terminus on the exposed portion of the cable semiconductive layer beginning from the cable shielding thence along any remaining exposed conductor insulation and thence upon a portion of the adaptor semiconductive layer,   spirally wrapping a metallic shielding layer along the cable terminus on the exposed portion of the cable metallic shielding beginning from the cable jacket terminus thence along the surface of the semiconductive wrapping upon and beyond the adaptor semiconductive wrapping terminus, and   applying tension to said wrappings as the same are spirally applied thereby causing said body portion outer end to contract onto said cable insulation to form a void-free joint therebetween.